Afghan IIT-ISM student chooses an Indian bride

Around 10 days back, Dhanbad, India’s coal hub, witnessed the wedding of a local girl with an Afghan national, who happens to be a student at the reputed Indian School of Mines (ISM) that recently secured the coveted Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) tag

Afghan national and student of IIT- ISM Mohammed Hasibulla with his Indian bride in Dhanbad(Bijay/ Hindustan Times)

Their love blossomed while attending English tuition classes together. Soon they discovered they were made for each other. Setting aside the difference in their nationalities, they decided to say ‘kabool hai’ thrice and settled down a happily married couple.

Around 10 days back, Dhanbad, India’s coal hub, witnessed the wedding of a local girl with an Afghan national, who happens to be a student at the reputed Indian School of Mines (ISM) that recently secured the coveted Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) tag.

The wedding of Yasmin Khatoon daughter of Gulam Ansari, resident of Govindpur locality of district with Hasibullah Amirzada from Afghanistan, reminded locals of the famous Kabuliwalar Bangali Bou film made on the Kolkata girl, Sushmita Bandopadhyay and her Afghan money lender husband, Jaanbaaz Khan.

Dhanbad marriage registrar Subodh Kumar who confirmed the news of the marriage said, it was solemnized under the Special Marriage Act. The groom had given a local address as well as his country’s address on the application form. The Afghanistan Embassy at New Delhi has been apprised of the marriage, said Kumar.

The marriage first was solemnized before local marriage registrar on April 6 and formalized it on Aril 7 at the bride’s residence by organizing a social marriage ‘ Nikah’ that was attended by several villagers of the locality.

Hassibulla happens to be student of mining engineering and was admitted in Indian School of Mining in 2013-2014 along with 45 students from Afghanistan.

Besides, seven students from Ghana, one form Tanzania and one from Spain are also studying at IIT-ISM.

The bride’s father Gulam Ansar, however, did not comment on the marriage, terming it as a purely a personal and family affair.

“We would try to get details from the office of the marriage registrar as well as the student very soon,” he said.

“After we collect all relevant documents, the Afghanistan Embassy, Union HRD ministry and home ministry would be apprised of the facts,” told registrar.

The local police too have no information regarding the marriage of a foreign national with an Indian national . Dhanbad Sadar police station- in-charge Akhileshwar Choubey told HT though the thana verifies documents of foreign nationals and keep tabs on movement but it was not aware of the marriage.

One of the classmates of Hasibulla on condition of anonymity said their love blossomed while they were attending English tuitions.